Brussels, 19/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - The proposal of the European Commission aiming to simplify the management of the programmes for the distribution of fruit and vegetables and milk in schools calls into question a number of elements of the reform of the common agriculture policy (CAP), a number of countries, France, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, Austria, and others) highlighted on Monday 17 February. In addition, the Commission was criticised for limiting the range of eligible products too strictly. The Netherlands strongly criticised Community programmes of this kind.
The Commission presented the Agriculture Council for the first time with the proposal to reform these programmes, which benefit nearly 30 million children. The Commission is proposing to set in place a single programme, with a common framework of rules. It proposes a Community budget of €230 million per school year (€150 million for fruit and vegetables and €80 million for milk per school year). A certain level of flexibility has been built in: transfers of up to 15% from one scheme to the other possible, on the basis of the country's requirements.
Calling the agreement on CAP reform into question. France welcomed the Commission's aim of simplifying the administrative management of these two programmes. However, it criticised the fact that the proposal calls certain elements of the agreement on the reform of the common agriculture policy (CAP) into question. “The draft text calls into question the agreement reached with the European Parliament on the conditions for the implementation of article 43.3 of the treaty. As far as we are concerned, the Council must decide on the level of aid granted in the framework of these programmes on its own. We do not understand why the issue had to be reopened”, said the French delegation. Furthermore, the Commission is modifying the scope of eligible products decided on during negotiations on the single common market organisation (CMO): “cheeses and processed fruit and vegetable should remain eligible for this programme”, France added. Germany too “rejects the idea of transferring responsibilities to Article 43.2. Defining the aid is a matter for the sole competence of the Council. We cannot now change what the Treaty has to say about competence”. The United Kingdom notes that the project plans to legislate via delegated acts. “However, we feel that it is the Council which is responsible, we cannot see why we have had to revisit this agreement”, said the British delegation. Austria “greatly applauds” the proposal, but has reservations over the provisions laying down the mechanism for setting the level of the aid, by proposal of the Commission. “We want this prerogative to remain in the hands of the Council”. A greater analysis needs to be carried out of the legal basis and the balance between the basic act and the delegated acts, Luxembourg continued. “Poland will struggle to accept the proposed delegated acts”, said the minister of that country, Stanis³aw Kalemba.
European Commissioner for Agriculture Dacian Ciolos replied that there was just one thing which did not tie up with what was decided upon in the reform of the CAP, which is the division of the envelope for milk. An EP-Council-Commission declaration on the compromise on the reform stipulates that this agreement does not call other proposals into question, the commissioner argued. The Commission has consulted its legal services in order to be sure that the proposal stands up, Ciolos added.
List of eligible products. The Commission is proposing to base the distribution of products in schools on fresh fruit and vegetables and drinking milk. The proposal provides the option for the countries to extend the range of agricultural products distributed, but in the framework of thematic educational measures (for instance, to yoghurt, cheese, honey, olive oil, etc). Spain (like France) protested against the withdrawal of aid for the distribution of processed fruit and vegetables in schools. Spanish Minister Miguel Arias Cañete referred to the example of juices. Spain takes the view that the priority is to extend the programme to olive oil and grapes, “with a proper budget”. “Thank you for your comments about olives and olive oil”, the Greek Presidency said. In Italy's view, “the range of eligible products is being restricted too much, particularly as regards milk”. Other dairy products, such as cheese and yoghurt, are “excluded”, despite the fact that these foods are “essential to a healthy, balanced diet”, the Italian delegation added. “I hope that the Commission will improve its proposal”, Italy concluded. The approach to the products covered “appears to us overly restrictive”, said the Luxembourg minister. “The project should not be limited to drinking milk”, said the Czech Republic. Poland laments the fact that fruit juice, yoghurt and cheese have been excluded.
The technical examination of the proposal is due to start within the working groups of the Council and at the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA). (LC/transl.fl)